D.C. Office

D.C. EDUCATION LANDSCAPE

D.C. public school students from pre-kindergarten through high schools, learning in classrooms across all eight wards.

~ %

Nearly half of D.C. public school students attend a public charter school.

D.C.'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE RICH IN DIVERSITY

%

Of public school students are Black.

%

Of public school students are Latino.

%

Of public school students are white.

%

Of public school students are multiracial or other backgrounds.

STILL NEARLY 1 IN 2 STUDENTS IS

CONSIDERED ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.

D.C. AS A NATIONAL LEADER

D.C. has much to be proud of. Through bold investments in science-of-reading instruction and high-impact tutoring, D.C. now ranks #1 in the nation for academic recovery since the pandemic. And long before most states took action, D.C. became a national leader in universal pre-K—with 89% of three- and four-year-olds enrolled in publicly funded early learning programs. These are real, measurable wins driven by educators, families, and sustained public commitment.

YET DISPARITIES REMAIN...

Yet even with this progress, deep and persistent disparities remain. The opportunity to attend a strong school — with excellent teaching, stable conditions, and access to rigorous learning—is not yet guaranteed for every student, particularly those who are at-risk, multilingual learners, or students with disabilities.

D.C. has shown what’s possible. The challenge now is to ensure that progress reaches every student, no matter their demographic or ward.

2025-26 Be Bold, Build Strong campaign

The Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund - D.C. launched in September 2025 with a vision: to ensure that every student, especially Black, Brown, and low-income students, in all eight wards of the District attends a high-quality, well-run traditional public or public charter school. After two months of community engagement, the Action Fund’s nonpartisan non-profit organization CSPS D.C. released its first-ever policy agenda. The 2025–26 Be Bold, Build Strong campaign challenges D.C. leaders to lead boldly and build a strong public education system that ensures accountability, secures equitable funding, and sparks innovation to accelerate success for every student. For more information, contact jessica@strongschoolsaction.org.

Download The Policy Agenda

POLICY GOALS

STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ACCOUNTABLE.

  • All families know how their child is performing, and can see how every school performs—with transparent, up-to-date, actionable, and comparable data on attendance, achievement, funding, and results.
  • All historically marginalized students are protected, despite uncertainty at the federal level and increased congressional interference.
  • Struggling schools are identified early and strengthened through timely, transparent, and targeted support.

STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE EQUITABLY FUNDED.

  • All public school funding is allocated through the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula to ensure that students receive equitable resources, regardless of whether they attend a DCPS or public charter school. 
  • All schools transparently show how funds improve student achievement.
  • All students learn in safe, well-maintained buildings regardless of sector. A 3.1% annual increase to the charter facilities allowance ensures students have safe, well-maintained buildings, even without access to capital dollars.

STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS INNOVATE TO SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS.

  • All schools act swiftly to implement science of reading and evidence-based math instruction consistent with the recommendations of the Early Literacy Education and Math Taskforce, enabling all students to achieve grade-level proficiency and above.
  • Students and teachers receive guidance and support on the responsible use of AI to enhance student learning, college and career opportunities, as well as to support teacher capacity.
  • All students in middle grades (grades 5-8) receive student-centered programming, including early career exploration, support for their personal and academic development, and guidance for transitions between school levels.

Learn More About Our D.C. Office

We’re advancing bold, evidence-based policies to strengthen public schools and expand opportunity for every child in the District.
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Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization. We engage in lobbying, electoral activity, and issue advocacy to advance strong public education policies and candidates. Contributions to Center for Strong Public Schools ActionFund are not tax-deductible. Contributions may be used for political purposes, including supporting or opposing candidates.